Aug
29
I have been invited to respond to the reaction of the majority at a conference in Gauteng, who struggled to link the idea of forgiveness with restitution. As a practical theologian, I am firstly interested in the experiences of people and therefore would like to understand the reasoning behind such a position. This reminds me …
Aug
29
The basis for our understanding of restitution arises out of both our responsibilty to God and to our neighbour. To acknowledge that all is gift from God and that “I am my brother’s keeper” is to accept responsibilty for my actions. Thus I would ask of God forgiveness for my sin where I have erred …
Aug
24
So much selfishness. So much hatred. So much revenge. How can we bring Restitution & Reconciliation to South Africans if some hearts don’t even knows or understand what this is all about? Some minds still wandering off and stick to their “Heil Hitler!” ideas and ideologies. Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Welfare Taxes could not have come …
Aug
16
Firstly, my contribution looks at the level of reconciliation within the single human race. In this context the myth of “races” needs to be challenged vehemently. My understanding is that the past 500 years has been one of intense pain for the all South Africans. The people who traditionally lived in South Africa invited others …
Aug
15
Apartheid denied the human dignity of black South Africans in the way it failed, as a system, to recognise political, economic and social rights for all. For this reason the United Nations declared apartheid a crime against humanity. Restitution ought therefore to consist, first and foremost, in efforts to affirm and restore the human …
Aug
12
The Biblical reconciliation has two sides to it. First there is a reconciliation between humankind and God and second the reconciliation between human beings themselves. One should always keep the separation between the two. If, for instance we take reconciliation between human beings we should first think of restitution according to God’s law. For example: …
Aug
12
In his rigorous exposition of the Sermon on the Mount in his well known book The Cost of Discipleship (Macmillan, 1963) written in 1936 Dietrich Bonhoeffer challenged the reader then and now saying: “Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace… Cheap grace is the grace we …
Aug
10
When we do harm to one another, there is always something that can be given back and something that can never be given back. If I damaged your car, I (or my insurance) should cover your costs. But your anger and frustration cannot be undone and the time that you required to address the matter …
Aug
06
Restitution in South Africa has many facets which could make valuable contributions to the building of the society for which we long to see. From the perspective of our Constitution, restitution upholds the cherished values of freedom, equality and human dignity. It has the possibility of deepening social cohesion and enabling South Africans to redress …
Aug
03
The International Center for Transitional Justice believes that restitution can be an effective means to help heal past injustices within South Africa and allow some form of reconciliation to take place within society. Confronting past injustices committed under Apartheid and providing victims with fair reparations are two steps that need to take place before South …